听
The Howe Sound Senior Boys golf team is off to a solid start for 2014 and the five athletes know that they have a bye to the provincials in their back pocket.
Playing in the AAA division, the Sounders kicked off the season on April 2 with a 5-2 win over West Vancouver鈥檚 Sentinel Secondary School but followed that up with a 7-0 loss to West Van鈥檚 Rockridge Secondary on April 7.
The team then bounced back from the loss with a 7-0 win over North Vancouver鈥檚 Argyle Secondary School on April 9. Howe Sound followed that with a 7-0 over Carson Graham on April 16.听
High school rules see the two teams split into pairs and square off against the opposition, with the lowest-scoring pair of each team receiving one point for scores on the front nine and the back nine. Points are also then awarded for the lowest combined score of all four players.
This year鈥檚 team consists of Grade 12 players Isshin Chiyasu, Kevin Kerr and alternate Connor Richards and Grade 11 players Ollie Rizun and Yamato Chiyasu. Head coach Darryl Simmons said he鈥檚 been pleased with the play of the squad.
鈥淭he season鈥檚 going good,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e 3-1 at the moment and all the guys are playing pretty well.鈥澨�
One factor driving the team is the fact that the 麻豆社国产Valley Golf and Country Club is hosting the AAA Senior Boys golf provincials from May 26 to 28. Because of that, the Sounders receive an automatic berth in the tournament because they鈥檙e the host team.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e all really excited about provincials,鈥� Simmons said. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that they use these matches to stay focused and competitive as provincials get closer.鈥�
Simmons said the immediate goal for the group is to win the North Shore title, but the familiarity of the 麻豆社国产course could help the team in May.
鈥淚t can get pretty windy in 麻豆社国产and they鈥檙e here, so they know how to play in these conditions,鈥� he said. 鈥淓very guy on the team is a junior member at the course so they鈥檙e all pretty familiar with it and it can be an advantage to know the course well.鈥�
He admitted the competition will be a lot stiffer in the provincials, but said his players are very dedicated.
鈥淭hey all take the game pretty seriously and whenever I鈥檓 at the course, I see them working on putting or chipping or at the range 鈥� it鈥檚 nice to see,鈥� he said.
They travel to Capilano Golf and Country Club to take on Handsworth today (April 24). The Sounders close the regular season on Monday (April 28) at Northlands Golf Course against West Vancouver Secondary School.听
For more details on the team, visit www.esportsdesk.com/leagues/front_pageesdNew.cfm?clientID=8&leagueID=1911.
